Curated by the Knowledge Team of ICS Career GPS
Education
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Build a positive mindset
Excerpts from article by Vivek Bindra, published in The Hindu
Lack of motivation is a common concern for many students. While some struggle to cope with academic pressure, others find it difficult to develop an interest in what they are studying or pursuing. Often, students choose a professional course because of social or peer influence. In some cases, this lack of motivation comes from classroom structures where teachers do not give adequate attention to a student’s individual needs. In other cases, it stems from unstructured thinking and lack of clear direction.
Here are some ways to regain the drive to achieve your goals:
1. Discover your passion
No matter which field of academics you are pursuing, there will always be an area that excites and drives you. Many students go through their academic routines without any vigour or excitement. This results in shallow learning and low motivation. Your passion may not necessarily come from your academic field. Be theatre, music or writing, finding and pursuing a new passion helps reset your mind and makes it more focussed and driven.
2. Don’t study for marks
Academic learning can be dull and monotonous particularly if your teachers don’t make an effort to make it more engaging and interesting. Education is a never-ending subject and the more you immerse yourself into it, the more you discover. Look at education as a vast expanse of learning, immerse yourself in different authors and read multiple books on your subjects until you find a narrative that strikes a chord with you.
3. Surround yourself with motivated people
The company you keep is a key determinant of your success. Being around people who are driven and motivated helps you stay focused. Make friends with people who share your passion, keep in regular touch with those who help you overcome your blues.
4. Learn new skills
While specialisation is always valued, the job market today requires multi-skilled individuals. Not only will additional skills make your resume more attractive, they will also equip you better for the industry. Learn digital marketing, social media communication skills, graphic designing, video editing & brush up your presentation skills. Also consider learning new skills, as it sharpens your mind and keeps it active and alert.
5. Seek inspiration from powerful stories
Often, when we feel down and out, a powerful story of struggle and success tends to reinvigorate and inspire us. So, read inspirational biographies of people who overcame difficult odds to achieve their goals.
Career
3 ways to build financial resilience and reduce money worries
Excerpts from article by Kalpana Fitzpatrick, published in goodhousekeeping.com
If the last 12 months have taught us anything, it’s the importance of building financial resilience and being ready to handle whatever life throws our way. If you’ve been lucky enough to still be earning, then make sure you take the steps to keep your finances strong.
Here’s three things everyone should do to stay financially fit:
1. Know your numbers
Make sure you know exactly what you have and what your assets are worth to get a clear picture of your financial health. Start by taking a look at: your property, your physical belongings & financial assets. Then make another list of what you owe and subtract this from what you own to calculate your net worth. If you’ve never done this before, then don’t worry – just get started with a rough estimate to give you some kind of indication about where you stand financially.
The true definition of being wealthy is building enough assets through which you can live off without needing to work. It’s the key to having a comfortable retirement and greater financial resilience, which is linked to better overall wellbeing.
2. Boost your retirement pot
If you are employed then you’ll be part of a workplace pension, but it’s highly likely that you’re only paying in the minimum contributions. If you’ve been lucky enough to make some savings during the pandemic and are still working as usual, then now could be the time to review your pension contribution and see if you can pay in more. If you’re self-employed and haven’t yet started a pension, then take a look into ticking that off your list, as you will benefit from tax incentives.
3. Look after the mind
Money worries are often cited as the most common reason for sleepless nights, exacerbated by the pandemic and recent recession. If money woes are stressing you out, it’s important to address your feelings.
To help you look after your mental health, here are some tips:
- Diarise: Thoughts can exhaust you, so get them out onto paper. That way, you can step back and appreciate the bigger picture. You can then prioritise important tasks like work/bills and sweep away wasteful worries.
- Meditate: When we are in a bad mental health space, our thoughts can be surprisingly negative and intrusive. Meditation can be a commitment – as short as ten minutes a day – where you try to empty that mind and label negative thoughts which take away their power and we use that extra space in our heads for planning.
- Talk: It is medically proven that talking about your mental health improves your mental health. Suffering in silence can fuel those demons, but a problem shared is a problem halved. Getting advice from a friend or a therapist can be a way out of any dark place.
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the article mentioned above are those of the author(s). They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of ICS Career GPS or its staff.)
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